Closure for receptacles



y v21, 1929- E. SCHWALLER 1,713,982

CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 18, 1927 Patented May 21, '1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL SCHWALLER, OF BERN, SWITZERLAND.

CLOSURE F013. RECEPTAGLES.

Application filed August 18, 1927, Serial No. 213,770, and in Switzerland November 17,1926.

The present invention relates to receptacles and more particularly to collapsible tubes adapted to receive viscous materials such as tooth paste and the like.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to employ, in collapsible tubes, a detachable closure. To this, there are serious objections, among which may be mentioned the fact that the closure or cap frequently drops out of the users fingers, when removed, and becomes lost. Another objection resides in-th'e fact that the frequent removal of the cap injures the threads thereofand those on the body portion of the tube; in consequence of which the cap soon becomes useless. Still another objection is the fact that the paste becomes clogged around the threads and, if it hardens, reduces the efliciency of the tubeand renders the contents unsanitary.

The main object of the invention is to provide a closure for collapsible tubes in which these objections are obviated.

\Vith this and other objects in view the invention resides in a. receptacle in which the closure comprises a rotatable member 1nounted permanently on the neck of the tube having a slide covering the aperture in the flat top surface of the receptacle, the said aperture being out of the centre in such a manner that by turning the rotatable 'member the aperture is opened or closed.

According to the preferred construction the delivery aperture is closed by means of a small plate spring-pressed against the top surface and mounted on. a ring which is rotatably guided on the neck of the tube. On turning the ring about the neck of the tube the spring-pressed closing plate is correspondingly moved and exposes the delivery aperture. The springy connecting member between the guide-ring and the closing plate serves also as'a hand-grip for turning the small late and thus for opening-and closing the tu e.

' In the accompanying drawing showing by way of example a form of carrying the subject of the invention into effect:-

Fig. 1 is the upper end of a tube in perspective,

Fig. 2 shows the cap of a tube in axial section on the line A--B of Fig. 3.

Fig; 3 is a plan of Fig. 2.

In these drawings, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of a collapsible tube which,

' for convenience of illustration, I have shown in these drawings.

It will be understood however, that the-closure device, 2, constitut-' mg my invention, is adaptable to an other appropriate form of receptacle wherein plastic, viscous, powdered, or other materials are contained. The tube 1 is provided with a top 2 having a cylindrical neck 3. The'top 3 is closed by a circular top surface 4. Onto the top surface 4 is pressed a small plate 5 of steel which lies over the discharge aperture 6 of the tube 1 when in closing position. The aperture is positioned displaced from the centre of the top surface 4. The small plate 5 is joined by means of a springy connection 7 to an open springy ring 8 which is slidably guided in and makes a good fit with a groove 9 in the neck 3. By turning the ring 8 the small plate 5 is removed from the delivery opening 6 and exposes this so that the paste can be squeezed out of same. In the top surface 4 a raised portion 10 is provided which serves as a stop for the small plate 5 in the closed and open positions. The small plate 5, the connection 7 and the ring 8, w hose end-pieces embrace the neck 3 in spring-like manner, are bent out of thin springy sheet steel. The connection 7 is so bent that it acts as a. spring andpresses the small plate 5 tightly against the top surface, whence a good sealing-ofi' of the tube is obtained.

It will be understood that the ring 8 encompasses. the neck 3 and that the means just described areadapted to maintain the parts in proper operative relation, the connection between the two members being such' as to permit easy rotation of one member relatively to the other. It will also be seen that the closure, in its entirety, may be conveniently and readily manipulated by the user with the same hand as that in which the body portion is held. it is unnecessary to remove any portion when it is desired to effect a discharge of the con-.

tentsof the receptacle. The mere rotation of one part relative to the other, and this by the fingers of the same hand as that which holds the receptacle, may be effected, leaving the otherhand free. The permanent securement of the two members in operative engagement with each other renders it unnecessary to remove any part in order to permit the removal of the contents of the receptacle. Moreover the plate 5 when over the aperture 6 cuts off the flow ormovement of the By this arrangement of the parts,

receptacles contents sharply, so that no porin so far as such details may be specified in.

the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a receptacle having a cylindrical neck and a flat top plate provided with an eccentrically arranged aperture adjacent the wall of the cylindrical neck, of'closure means for the aperture comprising a closure plate movable on the said flat top plate of the receptacle, a ring embracing and rotatable about the cylindrical neck and a bent spring arm integral with the ring and closure plate and tending to normally yieldingly press the closure plate against the top plate of the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle having anexteriorly grooved cylindrical neck and a'flat top plate provided with an aperture away from the centre of the top plate adjacent the upper edge of the wall of the cylindrical neck, of closure means for the aperture comprising a split resilient ring rotatable in the groove in the cylindrical neck, a bent spring arm integral with said ring and a closure plate integral with the arm and yieldingly pressed by the latter into contact with the upper face of the fiat top plate.

3. The combination with the elements claimed in claim 2, of stops for the closure plate on the upper face of the top plate.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature.

EMIL SCHWALLER. 

